Ciao Ragazzi and all my New Followers – welcome,
Well, I am very excited and can’t wait to tell you about my amazing book sales here in Tuscany. I am also going to be talking about Milko, Silvio Berlusconi (remember him?), The Rock Chick Band, Cold Winds, Zucchini Plants and Snails and going to England.
Firstly, I am delighted that Milko the owner of our local Cartoleria (stationers) has already sold two of my novels ‘My Father, The Assassin’. One to a lady from Finland and the other to our local doctor, who speaks a little English. As the book is only currently in English, this is quite an achievement! So well done Milko! We saw a couple of German tourists today, so hopefully more English speaking people will be passing through soon!
The very handsome Milko and his book display in Fiano!
Things are hotting up with our plans for the next Rock Chick Band concert in our lovely garden. My lead guitarist and mentor, Stefano Bartalesi, is checking that I am practicing and we will be having a rehearsal with the two backing singers and rhythm guitarist in two weeks time. My alarm goes at noon everyday to remind me to do a half hour singing practice before pranzo (lunch), however, I am so side tracked by work and book marketing that I don’t always achieve this. But don’t tell Stefano. My plan is to practice like crazy during the two weeks run up and to soothe my throat with some lovely Chianti from Claudio Corbinelli’s vineyard! If you are in Tuscany on the 22nd June and would like an invite to this private concert party, email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net.
So what is the latest from the gorgeous Silvio Berlusconi? Mama Mia, Ilda Boccassini, prosecutor, has been sent threats including a letter with two bullets, her office said. Well, what can we say, Silvio has such a huge fan club that they could have come from a little granny or a seventeen year old dancer, who knows? Silvio claims he is the victim of a campaign by left-wing magistrates. Look him in the eye and tell me what you think!
We have been coming up with all sorts of ways, short of stepping on them which sometimes cannot be avoided, to keep the snails off our zucchini (courgette) plants. We collect bucket fulls and throw them, one at a time, in a gentle arc into the olive grove which gives them a second chance. However, if you come out at dusk you will find them trooping back up to the garden in convoy. Whilst the plants are small enough, we have them inside plastic bottles overnight and coffee dregs around the bases. Please don’t suggest any chemical deterrents; our local plant shop gave me some crystals to sprinkle around and I was heartbroken to find the tiny plants eaten and the snails belly up! Never again….
The weather has been wet, cold and windy, so my going to England tomorrow will not make any difference to my wardrobe. Arrgh, you might say and I agree with you. However, I must make an appearance from time to time and will be networking and promoting my company, http://www.hoareworth.com, whilst handing out lots of cards for ‘My Father, The Assassin’. I read recently, that an American writer hit record novel sales because her husband was handing out cards on all his business trips! My man (bless him) also does that, and I shall do the same this next week. I will be back next Saturday so will send you my next post on Sunday 2nd June.
Have a great weekend. June xx